08.12.2015

TINFO e-News | Winter 2015 | Theatre News from Finland


ARTISTS’ TALK

Sound design and directing in curious and artistic hands

THEATRE NEWS FROM FINLAND

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVALS IN FINLAND

EVENTS

OPEN CALLS

TOOLKIT FOR THEATRE PRODUCTION AND MOBILITY

MAP OF THEATRES IN FINLAND

PUBLICATIONS

NEW PLAYS FROM FINLAND – DATABASE

TINFO GRANT FOR TRANSLATION – HOW TO APPLY?

SEASON’S GREETINGS AND NEXT EDITION

ARTISTS’ TALK

Sound design and directing in curious and artistic hands

Director Anni Klein and sound designer Heidi Soidinsalo have been in artistic collaboration since 2011 in dance, theatre and performance art both in the open field and in institutions. Both have graduated from the Theatre Academy  in Helsinki in 2009. Their work Play Alter Native (Teater Viirus 2012) led Heidi Soidinsalo to win the SÄDE award for best sound design of the year. In addition, their collaboration work Dirty Dancing was awarded with the special SÄDE award in 2014 (Zodiak – Center for New Dance  2014).

Heidi Soidinsalo has aimed to increase public discussion about sound design as one of the design professions in performance arts. She has edited a collection of articles in Finnish about the possibilities in sound and performance (Ääneen ajateltua – kirjoituksia äänestä, esityksestä ja niiden kohtaamisista, pdf). “The book has raised a lot of interest since its publication and contributes to filling the huge void that exists in the field of sound design regarding written information,” Soidinsalo says. Therefore, she now intends to expand the materials of the book and the related discussion. The end result will be a vast online collection available to anyone. “My aim is to move on to a format that is easier to edit and update and that uses several different media. The collection will also include articles in English because there has been strong interest in participating in compiling this electronic collection also in the international field of sound design.”

Soidinsalo perceives sound design as a significant and constantly expanding part of the vast array of possibilities in contemporary performances. “My intention is to continue on this path with more determination and to focus especially on sound-oriented projects that promote the familiarity and comprehension of sound design,” says Soidinsalo.

Anni Klein is interested in the transformation taking place in the professional image of a director. In processes in which the roles of each operator change and performances are created without the traditional director-led hierarchy, the professional image of the director must also be re-established. A lot of written content has been published about the new dramaturgy and the transformation in the actor’s profession but written publications on the new transformed definition of the director’s work description has been nearly nonexistent. Klein aims to discuss the topic in a working group that consists of young directors and she later wants to organise a more extensive seminar on the topic and also possibly edit a collection of essays. In her artistic work, Klein is currently investigating the structures of the new work description and the impact of the neoliberal thinking on the individual as well as collective working methods and the possibilities these methods create. Klein’s most central frameworks include feminism and gender studies.

Together with choreographer Jarkko Partanen, sound and space designer Samuli Laine and sound designer Jussi Matikainen, Klein and Soidinsalo have decided to create a new group in the field of performance art. The group will continue to concentrate on the artistic work and research of its members both in Finland and to a growing extent also internationally. “The group will be created because there is a need for persistent artistic work and for sharing the related challenges,” Klein says. In a group, the work will not be solely focused on individual, short-term productions but the members of the group can continuously challenge and support each other and develop their artistic expression in new directions. “It is only in this way that we can develop our skills and create high-quality artistic works.”

In addition to creating performances, the group’s aim is to develop an international network that would enable artistic discourse both in Finland and in the international context. The domestic field cannot offer endless opportunities for new, challenging and diverse work environments for Finnish contemporary theatre and dance professionals. The group members have already participated in the most important Finnish festivals and worked in major dance and theatre institutions.

Anni Klein and performance artist Anna Cadia are creating a SUURTEOS (Major work) to be realised in several parts during 2013–2023, which aims to shed light on the concept of feministic performance art. For Soidinsalo, who is one of the participants in the project, it offers the possibility to bring forward feminine sound design. “Sound design is a very masculine field: only about ten women have graduated from the institution during its nearly 30-year long history,” Soidinsalo says. “Ordering and curating their work into a series of concerts is a natural method of exhibiting feminine potential in the contemporary Finnish field of sound design as well as the feminine contribution to the history of sound art.” The artists aim to create SUURTEOS into an avant-garde, entertaining and megalomaniacal series of performances.

“In a group, you can share your thoughts both inside the group and more extensively with other operators in the field,” Klein summarises. “Creating collaboration networks and synergy with other artists both in Finland and abroad will ultimately enrich the entire field and make room for new kinds of artistic activities.”

Previous Artists Talks

THEATRE NEWS FROM FINLAND

Finns directing abroad

Jari Juutinen’s Sad Songs from the Heart of Europe visiting Brussels and Luxembourg

The play Sad Songs from the Heart of Europe directed by Jari Juutinen and performed by Liisa Pöntinen has been invited in March 2016 to Brussels as part of the International Selection compiled by Bozar – Centre for Fine Arts, Royal Flemish Theatre (KVS) and Théâtre National de Belgique.

The play will be performed at Bozar.

The play will be performed in French at the Théâtre du Centaure in Luxembourg in March. The Finnish version will be available in April 2016 at the Oulu City Theatre.

More information and contacts: sadsongskomplexfi.wordpress.com/

Jari Laakso’s PIAF in London

Jari Laakso is a London-based director, whose main interests lie in musical theatre and plays, working on new writing and re-discovering old classics. In 2010, he moved from Finland to London to explore new performance opportunities and begin his studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Jari Laakso graduated from the BA (Hons) Theatre Practice – Performance Arts course in 2013. He has recently completed his MA in Musical Theatre Writing at Goldsmiths in London in 2015.

After a critically acclaimed run at the Bridewell Theatre, Jari Laakso’s direction of PIAF (by Pam Gems) moves  to the Charing Cross Theatre in December 2015.

More info

Finnish Drama in Europe


Rosa Liksom's Family Affairs premieres in Romania

Rosa Liksom's 1993 play Family Affairs received its Romanian premiere on October 2 at Teatrul Odeon in Bucharest. The play was translated into Romanian by Doru Mareş and it was directed by Radu Afrim. The production is planned to stay in the theatre's repertoire until the end of 2018.

For more information about the production, check out the theatre's website (in Romanian).

Rosa Liksom is represented by Agency North.

Timo Parvela's Seesaw staged in Estonia

Timo Parvela's children's book Keinulauta (Seesaw), which was first published in 2006, receives a stage adaptation in the Estonian Ugala Theatre in December 2015. The new adaptation has been written by Kadri Lepp and Martin Mill.

For more information about the production, turn to the theatre's website (in Estonian).

Timo Parvela is represented by Agency North.

Okko Leo's Pitch premieres in the Czech Republic

Okko Leo's play Pitch received its Czech language premiere on the 20th of October at theatre FESTE in Brno. The play has been translated into Czech by Otto Kauppinen, who also worked as a dramaturge for the production. The performances have been directed by Marika Smreková. The production's Czech title is Hři¨tě and it is planned to be performed for two years.

The play has previously been performed also in Germany, while Leo's more recent play The Orchestra will receive its US opening in Chicago in December this year.

For more information about FESTE's production, see the theatre's website (in Czech).

Okko Leo is represented by Agency North.

State Awards granted by the national arts councils

State Awards are granted by the national arts councils - the expert bodies of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland - to an artist or a group of two or more artists in recognition of a work or performance in a specific art form.

The State Award for Theatre was shared between the DuvTeatern Theatre Company and director Mika Myllyaho

Through its operations, which bring together a strong sense of artistic integrity and long-term engagement with a socially inclusive way of working, DuvTeatern has created performing arts of great artistic value. DuvTeatern works in an ethically sustainable manner, combining performing arts with pedagogical operations and audience work on accessibility issues, amongst others. At the same time, the theatre is creating a new meaningful and inclusive performing arts landscape – quite simply, a better society. DuvTeatern has worked with both larger institutions and the free performing arts field, with meaningful results both socially and artistically.

Director of the Finnish National Theatre Mika Myllyaho has, during his time as director, created exceptionally informed cultural policy that reflects views and aims beyond just those of the theatre world. Myllyaho’s will and capability when it comes to cooperation have ensured the freshness of the art produced, the effectiveness of production, and an inquisitive audience relationship. Inspired by the staff’s ideas, Lavaklubi has become a ‘loss-leader’, helping to maintain the Finnish National Theatre’s identity. The Sunday matinees have returned, and visiting performances have explored new forms of dance, circus and theatre. The touring theatre has been taken to closed institutions, as well as working with immigrants and suburban residents.

Association WHS was granted the State Award for multidisciplinary art

Association WHS is an association set up by a visual theatre and contemporary circus artist group comprising Ville Walo, Kalle Nio and Anne Jämsä. The State Award was granted for founding Teatteri Union, a new multiplex theatre venue for art in Helsinki. The theatre has served as a stage for performances and events that take a fresh approach and represent different fields of art.

Further information

http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Tiedotteet/2015/11/valtionpalkinnot_esittavat_taiteet.html?lang=en
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Tiedotteet/2015/11/valtionpalkinnot_1911.html?lang=fi&extra_locale=en

University of the Arts Helsinki: Kira O'Reilly to lead MA pilot

BA Kira O’Reilly has been appointed to the post of Lecturer in Ecology and Contemporary Performance at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki for the period 1 January 2016-31 July 2018. As part of the post, O’Reilly will also be leading the new MA pilot in Ecology and Contemporary Performance.

Kira O’Reilly hails from Ireland and is currently residing in London. Starting in 1997, she has had a long international career in performing arts. O’Reilly’s artistic work has a strong focus on the current discourse in ecology and performing arts. Her works during the last few years include, among others, inthewrongplaceness (2005 – 2009) at Casino Luxembourg, Refolding (Laboratory Architectures) (2011) at The Arnolfini, and the position of Thinker in Residence at the SPILL 09 festival. In Finland she has previously taken part in the ANTI Contemporary Art Festival and Field Notes events during the 2000s.

MA in Ecology and Contemporary Performance

MAECP is a Helsinki-based master's degree programme pilot. It is a part of University of the Arts Helsinki's curriculum in 2016-2018.

MAECP attempts to respond to the questions and needs raised by the current ecological situation that implicates all species, as well as the current shifts taking place in the field of performing arts, from the perspective of relations and dependencies. MAECP investigates and develops the methodologies, practices and theoretical bases of contemporary performance while developing new forms of collaboration, interaction and knowledge production in between the art, the research and the sciences and within a posthumanist framework. It encourages the students to review and reformulate existing practices, to experiment with and invent new forms of performance making and to maintain openness not only towards various forms of art but also towards different fields and discourses.

Further information

www.uniarts.fi/en

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVALS IN FINLAND

Russian Nights Festival | 11 - 13 Dec 2015, Helsinki

Russian Nights – Russian Performing Arts Festival will be held for the fifth time in Theatre Avoimet Ovet, Erottajankatu 5, Helsinki.

The theme of the festival is Closed Doors. Current political situation in Russia strongly affects independent cultural operators. Recently closed small theatre groups are on the edge of survival, therefore Russian Nights has invited three groups that are forced to fight for their existence. Moreover, festival will open with the photo exhibition by Svetlana Mikhailova. The artist has explored the topic of closed doors in variety of forms and techniques. The exhibition will be open during the festival dates in the lobby of Theatre Avoimet Ovet.

Also, there is addition film program presented by the festival partner - Orion. A retrospective of Juli Raizman, one of the most famous art house film directors in Soviet Union, will be held from 2 to 18 of December in Orion, Eerikinkatu 15.

We warmly welcome Russian culture lovers to join discussions with artists, warm soups and live music performers every day of the festival

More information: http://www.russiannights.blogspot.fi
Facebook: russiannightsfest
VK: https://vk.com/event107747276

The Edge of Ice festival | 21 - 23 Jan 2016, Helsinki

The Edge of Ice festival 21st-23rd January 2016 presents the performative arts of the people in North. The three-year project The people of the Edge of Ice will end with a forum and a festival.

The festival program includes performances, films and concerts from time, when finno-ugric people had the same myths, stories about the world tree and three-level reality. The festival will tell through art, what it is like to struggle for the mother tongue and identity, sometimes for your own existence.

More information about the festival and photos

More information:
Hinriikka Lindqvist, production coordinator
tel. +358 040 570 6570

Oulu Theatre Festival for Young Audiences | 25 – 31 Jan 2016, Oulu

This marks the 35th year of the Oulu theatre festival for young audiences. Literature is strongly represented in the programme of the anniversary year. We are in for magnificent stories based on some of the classics and recent works of children´s literature.

The themes of our anniversary are learning new, realisation, exploring oneself and one´s environment, and growing as a human being. Important topics are brought to us on stage. What is friendship like? Or loneliness? What does happiness mean?

Read more teatteri.ouka.fi/festival

Winter ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival | 22 – 28 Feb 2016, Kuopio & Tahko

The 15th international ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival will take place between 22nd and 28th February 2016 in Kuopio and the skiing centre Tahko. The first ever Winter ANTI will feature artworks that play with snow, ice, darkness, coldness and the sleeping nature of the Nordic winter. It continues ANTI’s unique concept of collaborating with non-artistic partners.

Winter ANTI will be opened in Kuopio on 22nd February and the festival will move to Tahko on the 24th.

www.antifestival.com/2016/eng/

EVENTS

Mad House - 3rd season | 5 Feb – 30 Apr 2016, Helsinki

The Mad House project aims to create a production house for live art to Suvilahti, Helsinki, by 2017. The Mad House team is a bunch of artists and producers. The Mad House wants to function openly and transparently. During the process towards the production house we will organise several open discussions for professionals, future neighbours, and other interested people.

Further information

Nordic Performing Arts Days – Dagarnir 2016 | 24 - 28 May 2016, The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands and Leikarafelag Føroya offers a warm welcome to the Nordic Performing Arts Days, which will be held in Tórshavn during May 24th. – 28th. 2016

The Days will consist of Nordic and local performances, workshops for theatre people and open seminars. Dagarnir is organized in collaboration between the ITI centres in the Nordic countries under the common title Network for The Nordic Performing Arts. Leikarafelag Føroya - the Fareose association of the performing arts - is hosting the 5 days edition under the theme ”Interactivity and Nordic co-creation”.

Network for the Nordic Performing Arts consist of representation from several Nordic partners, including TINFO – Theatre Info Finland.

More information on the performance program, seminars and workshops: www.nordicperformingartsdays.fo

OPEN CALLS

Open call for the program of INTERKULTfest 2016 has now started | Deadline 31 Dec 2015

INTERKULTfest, a performative art festival focusing on interculturalism, will be organized in 2016 in cooperation with cultural centers Stoa and Vuotalo during 21.–24.9.2016. The festival will be international, which means that there will also be invited performances from abroad in addition to national ones. Through the open call we’re looking for performances which deal with the thematic of the festival from a new perspective, fearless of taking a stand. We value forms of expression which are appealing to youngsters as well as urbanity. The main target groups are youngsters and young adults, but we are also looking for performances for children to meet the INTERKULTkids concept. The performance for children should be directed to children between 5 and 8 years of age.

Primarily, we look for performances from professional groups, but we also take under consideration other performances which have a back up professional organization, but in which performers themselves aren’t’t professional artists. The performance should be under 120 minutes and light in the set design due to tight construction schedule during the festival. The performances can be based on dance, theatre, circus, performance, spoken word or others which that could be considered performative art.

Please send a free-form proposal by 31.12.2015 to festival(at)kassandra.fi and on the subject of the message write “INTERKULTfest 2016 open call”. The final selection will be communicated personally to the applicants by 30.4

Further information http://www.kassandra.fi/en/interkultfest/

Master's Degree Programme in Cultural Studies, Tampere | Apply on 14 Dec – 27 Jan

The aim of the Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies is to develop understanding of culture as a dimension of all human practices that produces and defines social realities. The degree program introduces students to contemporary key issues in cultural studies and develops analytical and critical skills in analyzing current cultural phenomena.

The multidisciplinary degree is taught by specialists from fields of cultural studies, media studies, music studies and theatre studies. The degree offers an alternative approach to contemporary cultural practices with an emphasis on mobility, transnationalism, performativity and cultural action.

The focus of the degree is in contemporary socio-cultural realities. It explores a world in which different forms of mobilities, crossings of customary borders (e.g. between nation states, economy, politics and culture or forms of expression) and new hybrids produce new cultural articulations and practices.

The degree offers a comprehensive overview of current and emergent cultural realities and theories as well as practical tools for analyzing present-day cultural phenomena. During the programme students are continuously challenged to develop their thinking, writing and project management skills in co-operative, pedagogical and creative ways.

Further information (PDF)

www.uta.fi/cmt/cs/index.html

Volunteers to the IFTR Conference “Presenting the Theatrical Past” | Deadline 15 Jan 2016

Between 13th and 17th June 2016, Theatre and Dance Studies at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, Stockholm University, have the honour to host the annual international IFTR conference.

IFTR (The International Federation for Theatre Research) is the world’s largest international organisation for theatre and performance researchers. It was founded in 1957, the Federation currently boasts members from 44 countries and from all continents.

The conference, “Presenting the Theatrical Past. Interplays of Artefacts, Discourses and Practices”, addresses questions concerning our relationship to theatre history, i.e. the relation between present and past. How and why do we deal with history? What do we do with history? To what extent is historical research an exploration of our present?

The IFTR Stockholm Committee is looking for forty volunteers to assist with all aspects of the IFTR 2016 conference to ensure that it runs smoothly. Volunteers will be required for the duration of the conference (13th June- 17th June 2016) and some time for training and preparation prior to the conference. Accommodation and lunches are included.

Volunteers will be asked to work with a variety of tasks related to the conference, such as assisting seminars, orientate delegates between venues, excursions and social events, assist with working group sessions, technical assistance, pack conference bags, provide information for delegates and much more. You will also have free time to engage with the conference and you will be able to participate in some of the social and cultural programmes on campus and beyond.

N.B. The official language of the conference is English, good communication skills in English are required. Additional language skills may be called upon when communicating with individual delegates.

More information (PDF)

Call for collaborative media art projects | Deadline 15 Jan 2016

m-cult calls for collaborative media art projects to be realized during residencies in Helsinki 2016. The call is open for both international and Finnish artists who work with participation, collaboration and media.

The location for most of the residency projects produced in 2016 is Maunula in north Helsinki. Maunula is a neighbourhood built in the 1950´s with lots of forest and a strong culture of local democracy.

Read the full call  and submit your proposal via this electronic form  by January 15, 2016.

Join the Facebook event to receive updates on the call!

The residency projects are produced by m-cult within the Collaborative Arts Partnership Programme (2015-18), a transnational network funded by Creative Europe.

 The Maunula projects are supported by the Helsinki model grant from the Helsinki City Cultural Office.

More information:
capp(at)m-cult.org / Kaisa Kukkonen & Minna Tarkka / m-cult

Theatre Academy in Helsinki: Master’s Degree Programmes | Apply on 8 - 27 Jan 2016


MA in Ecology and Contemporary Performance

MA in Ecology and Contemporary Performance (MAECP) is a two-year pilot of a master’s degree programme, which studies questions in ecology and performance in the era of ecological crises through a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach. It starts on August 2016 and admissions are held on spring 2016.

MAECP focuses on performance in the current era of ecological crisis. It investigates different forms of performance, their methodology and theoretical bases in the borderland of science and the arts. Its aim is to develop co-operation, interaction and methods of performance, as well as develop the foundation and practices of work that transcend the borders between art and science. In this manner it strives to respond to the challenges posed by the ecological crisis that will affect all species.

The structure of the program aims to enable collaboration and dialogue on various levels: between the students, between the students and the teachers/mentors, as well as between various degree programmes, academies and artistic and scientific communities. It also supports intensive and extensive collaboration and networking with artists and other professionals, both in Finland and abroad.

How to apply?

We are looking for 6 - 8 artists from all over the world, who are willing to undertake new research in the emerging and combined fields of ecology and contemporary performance.

Selection criteria:
www.uniarts.fi/sites/default/files/MAECP-2016.pdf
MAECP homepage:
www.uniarts.fi/en/maecp
Application and admissions:
www.uniarts.fi/en/apply-to-theatre-academy


Master’s Degree Programme in Theatre Pedagogy

The two-year programmes present contemporary and critical viewpoints to arts education and facilitate a dynamic relationship between art and pedagogy.

During the studies, the students will develop reflective, questioning, and progressive approaches towards performance, pedagogy and the arts in society. As a graduate of these programmes you will be a versatile and inventive professional with extensive work opportunities in performing arts and art pedagogy.

The programmes are also open to international applicants who have sufficient skills in English language.

The application period is January 8-27, 2016.
The auditions will be held in Helsinki on May 6-9, 2016. Fulltime studies start in August 2016.

Read more

Performance and workshop submissions – ITI World Congress, Brazil | Deadline 30 Jan 2016

The International Theater Institute has launched a call for workshops and performances for the ITI 35th Congress in Manaus. The congress theme is The Nature is our Stage and the deadline for submissions is January 30th. I have attached both calls and you can also find them on our website (call for performances here and call for workshops here) with additional info. Please circulate them widely to your members! Artists need to submit a form, also available on the website and in attachment.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Aktina Stathaki
Events Manager
International Theater Institute
1332 Xinzha Rd, Shanghai
www.iti-worldwide.org

CINARS 2016 - Call for applications | Deadline 15 Feb 2016

Submit an application to present a showcase in the official program of the 17th CINARS (International Exchange for the Performing Arts) Biennale in Montreal, Canada, from November 14 to 19, 2016.

The official programming will feature selected full-length showcases and showcased excerpts of works in dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary arts and circus.

The call is open to artists from all countries.

Please note that applications must be sent before February 15, 2016, and that a non-refundable CA$125 processing fee will be charged for every submission.

For more information, visit the CINARS website.

Please fill out the online application here.

TOOLKIT FOR THEATRE PRODUCTION AND MOBILITY

The website gives theatre professionals practical advice on producing a stage play and taking a show on the road. The toolkit includes budget examples, sample contracts, tips for distribution of duties and other essential production tools.

Case: Theatre Group W (TGW), run by a non-profit cultural organization, exempted from paying the value-added tax (VAT). TGW starts to produce a stage production and they want to tour with it after the domestic run of the show. Where and how will TGW find the resources (people, time, spaces, funding, etc.) to put together a stage production? Where to perform and how to expand the performance season? How to plan and manage a tour or a guest performance abroad?

Toolkit for Theatre Production and Mobility

MAP OF THEATRES IN FINLAND

Finland is a true theatre land. The Finnish theatre network covers the whole country from South to North. Every year, Finns buy three million theatre tickets, which is a lot for a country with a population of five million.

Welcome to the theatres of Finland!

Best Regards, TINFO Staff

PUBLICATIONS

TINFO News is a magazine on Finnish theatre, drama and artists.

View the issues (e-publications):

Also available in TINFO web store:

NEW PLAYS FROM FINLAND – DATABASE

New Plays from Finland database offers a selection of Finnish plays, please take a look!

I often set things in wrong proportion to each other. This is what is surprising. I also try to say aloud things that are often kept hidden, that people are ashamed of. For example, I wish I’d come across a grief like yours. When people break up, they lose weight.

Minna Nurmelin, a playwright, on the humour in her plays

www.tinfo.fi/newplays

TINFO GRANT FOR TRANSLATION – HOW TO APPLY?

Theatre Info Finland (TINFO) awards grants for translations of Finnish plays. We accept applications continuously. Grant decisions are four to five times a year. We aim to support international productions of Finnish plays.

Who can apply for a TINFO translation grant?

Playwrights, drama agencies, theatres, festivals or translators may apply for a grant. The grant will be paid directly to the translator.

Read more about the criteria and view the application form here.

Recent translations of Finnish plays supported by TINFO Grant.

www.tinfo.fi/grant

SEASON’S GREETINGS AND NEXT EDITION

TINFO e-News | Spring 2016 will come out on 23 February 2016.

TINFO office is closed between 21 Dec 2015 - 10 Jan 2016.

Theatre Info Finland (TINFO) wishes you all a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!


www.tinfo.fi/en

twitter.com/tinfotweets